MagicalMayhem.

com
MIKE GUISTI WORKS CRUISE LINES, CONCERTS, CASINOS, CORPORATE
AND PRIVATE EVENTS, AND RESTAURANTS. HE HAS WRITTEN
ARTICLES FOR MANY OF TODAY’S MAJOR MAGIC MAGAZINES
INCLUDING GENIE, MUM AND THE LINKING RING.
SEE MIKE’S PRODUCTS PAGE >>

Demolished
This is a routine that has developed throughout my years as a close-up
restaurant magician. I have had much success and fun with it. Hope you do, too.

EFFECT:
Magician borrows a bill from a spectator. Making comments about properties of money, the
magician then penetrates the bill with a pen, proving it was a real bill! After penetrating and
accidentally ripping it with the pen, the spectator is asked to hold onto their folded, now
trashed bill. Magician makes a magical gesture and the bill is found to be completely restored
in the hands of the spectator. The magician proceeds to draw a mustache on the bill.
Taking the bill back, the magician completely rips it in half, and then into quarters. The pieces
of the bill are folded and slowly fused back together. The spectator verifies that the bill is the
same (noting the mustache drawn earlier) and the performer bows to thunderous applause.

PREPARATION:
1) You will need a “Pen Through Anything” or “Sharpie We Use” (I prefer the SWU as I am
constantly using Sharpies in my act).
2) Knowledge of any bill switch utilizing the thumb tip.
3) Take a dollar bill and draw a mustache on Washingtonʼs face. Fold the bill inside a thumb tip
in preparation for the bill switch. This goes into the right pantʼs pocket (if wearing jeans, the
inner pouch-pocket is preferable).
4) Place the real Sharpie inside the right outer jacket pocket.

THE GAS:
Keeping the gimmicked pen in your left hand, ask to borrow a dollar bill from a spectator.
Take the bill in your left hand such that the bill partially covers the pen. Control the tip of
the pen under cover of the bill, while “breaking” away the top potion of the pen in your right
hand (making sure to cover the missing part of the pen). Connect the two ends of the pen
together with the bill inbetween. The illusion created is such that the bill looks like the pen has
penetrated it. Pause, let the effect sink in, and display the penetration by only holding onto the
uppermost part of the pen. Turn and twist it a few times and say, “You know what that means,
donʼt you? It means that was a real dollar bill. What a bummer! Oh well, Iʼve got a great card
trick for all you... I need to borrow a one hundred-dollar bill for this trick. Just a joke...” At this
point, the left fingers grab the upper and lower portions of the pen simultaneously and yank
it through the bill lengthwise. This done very quickly, a ripping sound is created. Immediately
begin to fold the bill with both hands and give it to the spectator to hold tightly. Make a
magical gesture, say a few magical words, and have the spectator open their hands and slowly
open the bill. This gives you plenty of time and misdirection to switch out the gimmicked pen
for the real one. Once the bill has been “restored,” take the real Sharpie and without calling
undue attention to the fact that it is real, draw a mustache on Washingtonʼs face. Relax as if
the effect is finished, put your hands inside your pockets, and steal the thumb tip. 2
 MagicalMayhem.com
MIKE GUISTI WORKS CRUISE LINES, CONCERTS, CASINOS, CORPORATE
AND PRIVATE EVENTS, AND RESTAURANTS. HE HAS WRITTEN
ARTICLES FOR MANY OF TODAY’S MAJOR MAGIC MAGAZINES
INCLUDING GENIE, MUM AND THE LINKING RING.
SEE MIKE’S PRODUCTS PAGE >>

Take the bill back from the spectator and

tear it in half along its vertical midpoint.
The spectatorʼs reaction will be one of
shock, but reassure them that it is all just
illusion taking place.

Bring the pieces together and tear them

once again along their vertical midpoints.
Show the four pieces and say to the
audience, “Now doesnʼt this all look
REAL?” As you say this, let one piece of
the bill fall to the floor. This will inevitably
get a laugh from the audience. Pick up
the piece, line it up with the others, and
fold them along their horizontal midpoint.

At this stage, you are set to perform the

bill switch. Switch out the demolished
bill for the one inside the thumb tip,
and pretend to slowly meld the pieces
together one at a time, as there is no
need to rush to open the bill.

Once the spectators see the mustache on

Washingtonʼs face, they will assume it is
the exact same bill. After all, who in their
right mind would take the time
to pre-mark a bill?

Many Thanks,
Mike Guisti © 2004
MagicalMayhem.com